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KUV100 vs EcoSport Comparison

Mahindra KUV100 vs Ford EcoSport Comparison

Overall, an EcoSport ‘Ambiente’ diesel’s Total Cost of Ownership is just 35,000 Rs. more than a KUV100 ‘K8’, which makes it our pick of this test as it has better performance, dynamics, refinement and is way more luxurious than the KUV100. Not just that the EcoSport diesel works out to be 1.4 Lakh rupees cheaper than petrol KUV100 K8 over a usage of 5 to 7 years! If you are keen on a petrol vehicle, even then the EcoSport petrol ‘Ambiente’ is just 60,000 more expensive than the KUV100 ‘K8’ petrol, which is a bargain considering the sheer superiority of the EcoSport over the KUV100 petrol in every parameter.KUV100 vs EcoSport Comparison Video:

Performance & Drivability:Petrol: EcoSport’s petrol engine has much better performance than the KUV’s throughout the rev range. KUV100’s engine is just not up to the mark in terms of refinement either. Vibrations tend to creep in to the KUV’s cabin even at low rpm. The engine does not rev freely either and in spite of being a 3-cylinder unit, feels lacking in low-end and mid-range performance. The EcoSport’s engine feels slightly weak at low-revs but provides fairly good performance with decent refinement at mid and high revs.

Diesel: The KUV’s diesel engine has excellent drivability around town, just like the EcoSport. Both cars have minimal turbo lag and a strong mid-range making them very easy to drive in city traffic. EcoSport does have an edge on the highway, with better top-end performance and is more refined than the KUV’s unit as well.

Diesel: In our back-to-back tests, the KUV was over 1 kmpl more efficient than the EcoSport.ARAI Mileage (kmpl): KUV100 (manual) – 25.32, EcoSport – 22.7 (manual)Fuel Cost for 75,000 km (Lakh): KUV100 (manual) – 2.20, EcoSport – 2.45 (manual)Space & Comfort: KUV100’s seating is surprisingly better than the EcoSport. It has better under thigh support than the EcoSport and matching leg-room and elbow room. The flexible middle seat in the front is a good feature for carrying 6 people or 3 people and lots of luggage for short duration on occasion. However, KUV’s boot-space of 243 litres is 100 crucial litres lesser than the EcoSport’s 346 litre capacity.

Length (mm): KUV100 – 3675, EcoSport – 3995Width (mm): KUV100 – 1715, EcoSport – 1765Height (mm): KUV100 – 1655, EcoSport – 1708Ride Quality & Handling: KUV100 has great low-speed ride, but it is no match for the handling prowess of the Ford EcoSport. EcoSport has a slightly stiff ride at low speeds, but as the speeds rise, EcoSport is able to deal with the bumps far more effectively than the KUV. It even handles the curves as well as a car unlike the KUV, which exhibits copious amounts of body roll. EcoSport’s ground clearance and tyre size also justify its compact SUV tag, while the KUV’s don’t even match up to those of some hatchbacks like Baleno & Punto Evo.

Reliability and After Sales Service: Both Mahindra and Ford have struggled to maintain a clean track record of providing hassle free service experience in India. Both brands have struggled with basic product reliability issues exacerbating the problems at dealership level. However Ford has really turned a leaf after the launch of the Figo and improved significantly, while Mahindra has only met with limited success with their efforts in this area. In terms of resale value the EcoSport is bound to depreciate lesser than the KUV100 due to its near perfect fulfillment of customers needs, wants and desires in terms of looks, size and engineering.

Resale after 5 to 7 years est. (Lakh): You may have to spend more at the showroom while buying the EcoSport, but it is guaranteed to fetch you back the same amount when you finally part ways with it in the resale market.
KUV100 (Diesel manual) – 3.75, EcoSport (Diesel manual) – 4.80
KUV100 (Petrol manual) – 3.15, EcoSport (Petrol manual) – 3.90

Verdict: Firstly, an EcoSport ‘Ambiente’ diesel’s Total Cost of Ownership is just 35,000 Rs. more than a KUV100 ‘K8’, which makes it our pick of this test as it has better performance, dynamics, refinement and is way more luxurious than the KUV100. Not just that the EcoSport diesel works out to be 1.4 Lakh rupees cheaper than petrol KUV100 K8 over a usage of 5 to 7 years! If you are keen on a petrol vehicle, even then the EcoSport petrol ‘Ambiente’ is just 60,000 more expensive than the KUV100 ‘K8’ petrol, which is a bargain considering the sheer superiority of the EcoSport over the KUV100 petrol in every parameter.